This paper explores the concept of ‘intimation’ and its relationship to intuition, tacit knowing, and creativity. It addresses several theoretical challenges in conceptualizing creative intuition, including the conflation of intuition with insight, the proliferation of related constructs, and the lack of clarity regarding the ontological and epistemological foundations of intuitive knowing. It is argued that the phenomenon of intimation offers a promising solution, drawing upon Michael Polanyi’s epistemology of tacit knowing and ontology of stratification. Creative intuition, seen through a Polanyian lens, is not a technique but an embedded, embodied process involving judgment that discerns hidden realities, which are intuitively and aesthetically ‘felt’ (via gut feelings, hunches and vibes) as pre-existing and awaiting discovery. This paper contends that Polanyi’s epistemology provides a compelling framework for understanding creative intuition, emphasizing the centrality of intimations and perceptions of coherence in the intuitive processes that lead to breakthrough thinking. The paper concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications, advancing understanding of the nature of intuitive knowing and its potential applications in those areas of business management where creativity is to the fore such as entrepreneurship, innovation, marketing, scenario planning, and strategy. Additionally, implications are considered for the role of generative artificial intelligence in organizations. By highlighting Polanyi’s underutilized insights, the paper offers a novel theorization of creative intuition and thus contributes to the management and organization studies literature.
